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More information about Serenity Inns Inc: To provide quality housing and supportive health, educational and vocational services for persons seeking to move from addiction and homelessness to continued recovery and independent living

Here is a little bit of background information of Serenity Inn in relation to COVID-19.

Serenity Inn provides a three-phase, seven-month residential program for men addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, along with apartment housing for program graduates. The men we serve are homeless, have a desire to live in recovery, have been incarcerated and below the poverty line.

Serenity Inns serves approximately 100 men a year. While Serenity Inns is a small organization in terms of budget, their work has a tremendous impact on the workforce, community, and neighborhood safety. They are returning men to the workforce, and they are landing in skilled trade positions. Since men are in recovery, they are not engaged in crime to support their drug habit; they are no longer a drain on the public system (police, first responders). They are present for their families and are present in their children's lives, which means those children have a better shot at breaking the cycle.

As part of our seven-month residential program, men have to get a job after 30-45 days in the program. Men in the residential program pay $10 a day in rent once they get a job; the primary intent of this is to give them some skin in the game and accountability. Men living at the Alumni House pay $500 a month in rent, which covers all of their utilities as well.

How COVID-19 has impacted Serenity Inns and the men in the program:A couple days ago, we surveyed the Serenity Inns residents and the Alumni House occupants. 100% reported anxiety, stress and uncertainty. The majority have already seen a financial impact as they have been laid off or seen their hours cut. They are concerned about making expenses meet for themselves and their families. All community recovery meetings are now being conducted online, which is much less personable and lacks the accountability of in-person meetings.

Our response:Our primary goal is to provide men with the support they need to remain in recovery. Pre-COVID 19, that meant helping the men with their every day problems as they worked through life sober. Now, that means providing rent abatement and food and supplies for our residents, graduates and their extended family members. Our Board has waived one month rent for the residential program residents and the Alumni House occupants so that men can continue to live in recovery in the supportive community. Our Board would much rather waive rent for occupants rather than have someone disappear because he is ashamed of not being able to pay and lapsing back into his old using habits. Our counselors are making themselves more available than ever, since community recovery meetings are canceled indefinitely and the men still need recovery support.

Cost (estimated, for one month):Due to the generosity and quick thinking of Board members and donors, we are stocked with toilet paper, cleaning supplies and have a freezer full of food. The primary need is financial so we can provide rent relief and support.

One month of rent for Alumni House occupants: $4,000One month of rent for Serenity Inns residents: $2,800Increased hourly counselor staffing: $750Food and consumables for Serenity Inns residents and Alumni House occupants and families: $5,000